Herod the Great

So Herod the Great wasn't so great. yesterday we saw his summer home just outside bethlehem. it was a man made mountain that had a spiral staircase in the mountain. he modeled it after the pyramids and inside after the tabernacle. try to keep both worlds connected - there might be a lesson in that titled compromise.

We entered into the palestinen part of the region - quite different spiritual feeling. in this area they have made the most remarkable discovery that i am limited in what i can share at this point but i'll give more details later. here's the prayer point - we must be praying for Moshe (our guide and a war hero to Israel) so that he has wisdom and his tremendous favor continues.

We also got to do some laundry!

We went to a park that was dedicated to peace instead of war between israel and jordan.

Today we are headed into the old city of david (inside the walls) to the different quarters. if your not sure what i'm refering to - think yesterdays map will show you.

love
jc2

City of David

Well we spend Sunday driving up the border of Israel and Jordan. A long trip from Eilat to Jerusalem. Some of our stops included - Timna Park - where we saw a full scale setup of the Tabernacle. This is also the place where they found Jethro's dwells and alters before he believed after Mose's testimony of leading the Israelites out of Egypt. We were able to pray with Cami the lady who runs the ministry there. Very powerful - our delegation from Idaho blessed her with an arrow as a sign of deliverance and she blessed us with a prayer. Awesome!

We then drove on to the crossing where the children of Israel and the family of Jesus would have traveled - forgive i can't remember the name right now - there is so much. But it was an old church - the truth is that they know the highways of old because they could only travel on certain paths b/c of the landscape. From there we went to the area of Sodom and Gomorrah - we got some salt - might be Lots wife. We got to visit the dead sea and put our feet in the water, but we were a little behind schedule so that was all - very beautiful. We then traveled up into Jerusalem arriving at about 10pm. Another long day!

Yesterday, monday, we drove around Jerusalem and then spent the day in the Old City of David, not the old city inside the wall but just outside. This is where they are digging up the actual temple of Solomon. It was AWESOME. they have found the Gihon spring, Pool of Siloam, and Hezekiah's Tunnel. The access we got behind closed parts was cool! We went to Rachel's tomb where they found David's palace and where Boaz and Ruth met and married. This was uncover by the military when they were digging bunkers. It's like a giant buried treasure chest of history here.

We went to the 24/7 house of prayer last night, where JoAnne McFatter lead worship - it was amazing. We are going back on Wednesday. Tony got to play the congos with her. Go Tony!

We love you and miss you. Thank you for the prayers, we feel great and are doing great. Keep praying for the luggage!

Blessings, Jeph and Jaclyn

P.S. Lori - I was not disappointed ;)

Eilat, Israel

We'll I have not been able to post as much as I was hoping - mostly because of our schedule. We have been having VERY full days. We start at 6:30am and finish around 10pm (that' usually when we eat dinner) and limited internet access. But things are going well. Here is a quick update:

We left Cairo on Friday to cross the Siani pinisula (7 hour drive) where we crossed the Suez canal. We were under guard because this all miliarty area and not usually crossable on a tour bus. We crossed into Israel around 9:30pm. It was awesome and very moving. We did this on foot, very appropriate. We had to unload our bus and haul our luggage across the boarder through customs. Our Egyptian bus and guide could not cross. To make the walk and pray was freeing and surreal. The spiritual climate between Israel and Egypt is tremendous. Israel being much more peaceful. We have spent two nights in Eilat - which is like a Waikiki for Israel - it is summer here and very crowded with vacationing families. from here you can see Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt all long the shores of the Red Sea.

Yesterday a few of us went up to Mt. Karmom which is Mt Siani (? sp). Only a few could make it because of the difficulty of the journey. This is the place where Moses went up to visit the Lord and where God hid Moses in the cleft of the Mt. it was amazing - sorry you'll have to wait for pictures. They are finding alters and tombs that prove the israelites would of camped in this area and God gave Moses the 10 commandments. This is not the Mt. Saini that they had recently thought - they are finding discoveries all over Israel that are showing we have misplaced almost every thing - there is a reason why which i can't go into but will share upon our return. But the finds are history and very political - the reason for the guards. This was a long day b/c the place is under high security so we had military escorts the whole way and made for slow moving. Never felt more safe in my life!

We took some time on Mt Siani and prayer for our land and the Nez Perce - it was very powerful. Right as we began the wind picked up and started to blow - it was about 90+ degrees in the wilderness and very rocky terrain. our time of repentance and declaration was powerful. Moshe our host prayed the Aaronic blessing overing us in hebrew. WOW! we had the covenant between the 1st nation of the Nez Perce, Israel and in grafted all standing in the area that God used to reveal himself to the children of Israel. as soon as we finished the wind stopped. It was 4:30 am Saturday your time in Lewiston. Anything happen?

Today we will go from Eilat up to Jerusalem where we will spend the next 6 days visiting and see various sites. Which hopefully i'll be able to share with you on a daily basis. Keep praying for the Riggles - they have yet to hear about their luggage. This has all the gifts and presents that we had for the Israelites and the Prime Minister from the Nez Perce.

Okay this is only a few details but it is time to go.

Love and blessings,
Jeph & Jaclyn

Cairo, Egypt

We'll we made it!!!

Do pray though not all of our teams luggage made it. I think 7 out of the 26 that are traveing on the teaml have a missing bag. The Riggles who are with us from the Name Church are part of that group. We leave for Israel in the morning!

It took us about 31 hours to get to our hotel on Wednesday night - as you can imagine we were very tired and weary. We ate dinner at about 10:30pm. Then we got a few hours to sleep.

We are staying at an amazing hotel - the Mena House - it is right in front of the famous Pryamids of Giza and the Sphinx. I am not able to post pictures at this time. The Pryamids are amazing - over 4000 years old!! WOW!! Take note that the triangle of the Pryamiads to the Egyptians represent their believe in a 3 in 1 god - obiviosly not the same as ours but can you see how in the spirit man of ever person is the God of Eternity - and how we go about trying to reach Him.

After seeing the Pyramids we traveled onto a place called Ben Ezra Synagogue in the old city of Cairo (which by the way has over 18 million people in it!!). This is the site of the biblical city where Moses grew up and where Jesus and his family excaped to when they fled from Herod. Here they are refered to as the "holy family." The history alone is amazing. Our guides Lilianne (from Cairo) and Moshe (from Israel) are awesome. The way they are weaving in the history of Egypt into our faith is something I never expected. We do need to get the Egpyt out of all of us but in the same breathe, understand Egypt and how God used it to bring forth His plan of salvation.

We then visited the Cairo Museum and again say the amazing reflection God in the history of Egypt. The remains are awesome - but here again the confirmation that it brings to our faith is mind- blowing. We saw the ancient system of temple building and preservation by examining the famous King Tut artifacts - when God spoke to Moses and had him construct the ark and tabernacle He was drawing upon the Israelites 400+ years of captivity and craftsmanship - again coming out of Egypt. Pictures will make this so much better - but that will have to wait.

What was most intriguing for me from our day was how God said the promise land will not be like the Nile where you have walked and water was available, but I will give you the water as you walk to me. If you do not obey there will be no water.

Water is key here in this area - as it is desert that we will be crossing tomorrow. We will be going from Cairo to Eilat in the southern tip of Israe where we will cross into Israel. And taste God our water and bread.

Thank you again for the prayers and support!

More to come!

Here We Go!

Well we are getting packed up and ready to take off early in morning. We are very excited. Our travel plans have us leaving Lewiston at 5:30am to Salt Lake city. We then take off to Chicago where we will meet up with the rest of our team who we will be spending the next 14 days with. Our plan is to leave Chicago and land in London, where we then fly into Cairo, Egypt. Our total travel time with stops will take us about 27 hours if my math is correct, but i guess i'll find out for sure soon. We will be 10 hours ahead of you - so imagine when you wake up I will have already prayed for your entire day as i've lived out mine. Okay, well I'll fill you in with more tomorrow.

Love and Blessings,
Jeph (and Jaclyn)

Israel Update

6 Days and Counting!

We are 6 days away from leaving Idaho and entering into the land of Cairo, Egypt. I just wanted to take a moment and give you some information about our trip and let you know who will be traveling with us from our area.

Our team of 7 from this area includes: Jeph & Jaclyn Chavez, Antonio Smith, Eldon & Marilyn Riggle, Mercedes Turner and Rochelle Lang. We will be joining about 20 others from around the nation when we arrive in Cairo.

It is my hope to be able to keep you updated with our daily adventures and prayer requests. I also want to hear back from any of you that may be getting something from the Holy Spirit. I say hope because I've been told we have access to the internet but I'm not sure what that all entails - so we'll just have to wait and see.

Below is our intineray and some prayer requests. I'll be in touch soon with more. Blessings, Jeph

Itinerary:
June 30th: Lewiston to Cairo, Egypt, via Salt Lake/Chicago/London
July 1-3: Cairo, Egypt
July 3-5: Eilat, Israel (Red Sea)
July 5-10: Jerusalem, Israel
July 10-12: Sea of Galilee, Israel
July 12-13: Tel Aviv, Israel
July 14: Tel Aviv to Lewiston, via London/Chicago/Salt Lake

Prayer Requests:
Revelation & Wisdom
Boldness
Safe travel
Sleep
Luggage
Children and family members
Hope Chapel Lewiston and the NAME Outreach